Tag: 5th-Year Option

Will the Commanders exercise LB Jamin Davis’ 5th-year option?

Should the Commanders exercise Jamin Davis’ 5th-year option?

One year ago, the Washington Commanders had a massive decision: Whether or not to pick up defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option for 2024.

That notion seemed silly at one time, but injuries and a lack of production made Washington’s decision a relatively easy one. The Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option and traded him during the season to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2024 third-round draft pick.

This year, new general manager Adam Peters has another decision to make. This time, it’s regarding 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis. It’s safe to say Peters likely will not struggle with that decision.

Through three seasons, Davis has played in 45 games with 36 starts and recorded 269 tackles, including 20 for loss, 10 QB hits, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. Davis struggled as a rookie when Washington selected him to play Mike linebacker. However, it didn’t take long for the Commanders to move him back outside, and he showed improvement.

Davis had his best season in 2023 before a shoulder injury ended his campaign after 13 games.

NFL.com recently examined all 32 first-round picks from the 2021 NFL draft and predicted whether their fifth-year option would be exercised.

Here’s what was said about Davis:

Exercise the option? No.

I loved Davis coming out of Kentucky and thought he’d be a huge contributor behind a once-stacked Commanders defensive line. But that never came to fruition, and he is currently recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery. Plus, with Washington bringing in a new regime this offseason, the team is most likely to let Davis play out his fourth season before re-evaluating whether it wants to keep the former first-rounder for 2025 and beyond.

We agree. While Davis has shown flashes and improved each season, the bar has been lowered. Peters has drafted some good linebackers in his previous stops, so Davis can play himself into Washington’s future plans with a strong 2024 season.

It will be interesting to see Davis play for a new defensive staff.

Broncos have to make a decision on Pat Surtain’s 5th-year option by May 2

The Broncos have until May 2 to pick up Pat Surtain’s fifth-year option (for the 2025 season). It will be worth more than $18 million.

Every player selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft (including Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain) has a clause in their contract that includes a fifth-year option for the 2025 season. The window to exercise that fifth-year option opened on Jan. 8. The deadline is May 2.

The Broncos still have more than three months to make a decision. Surtain’s fifth-year option is expected to be worth $18,421,000, according to OverTheCap.com. Picking it up will likely be a formality for Denver as the team negotiates an eventual long-term contract.

During the team’s end-of-season press conference earlier this month, general manager George Paton did not have an update on any potential contract negotiations.

“We’re all big fans of Pat,” Paton said on Jan. 9. “I think Sean [Payton] said it — we’re going to have a big meeting in a couple weeks and go through the entire roster, Pat included. We want Pat here for a long time, but I’m not prepared to make any statements on anything moving forward.”

Surtain is set to earn just north of $3.5 million in 2024 before potentially getting a big pay raise on his fifth-year option in 2025. The highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL average more than $20 million per season, and Surtain’s agent will likely view that number as the floor in negotiations with the Broncos. There’s no immediate update on PS2’s contract status, but he’ll be paid handsomely when the time comes.

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Only 12 players from the 2020 NFL draft had their 5th-year options picked up

3 of the 12 players from the 2020 NFL draft to have their 5th-year option picked up are former Tide players

There is no exact science when it comes to the NFL draft, every pick is a hope and a prayer for the franchise. Sure, players picked in the first round are expected to have more success than players selected in later rounds, but making it to a second contract is nearly as hard as making it to the league in the first place.

Of the 32 players selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, only 12 of them had their 5th-year options picked up which fully guarantees their money in 2024. Guys like Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson are no-brainers, but what I found to be interesting is that three of those 12 players with their options picked up are former Alabama players. Those three players are Tua Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills and Jerry Jeudy.

The quantity of talent that Nick Saban produces is well known, but it is the quality of his players that makes him so unique. All three of these guys have been scrutinized at points in their careers for inconsistent play or injuries, but the teams are making a vote of confidence by bringing them on for another year.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Tagovailoa, Wills and Jeudy’s NFL careers.

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Report: Commanders will not exercise DE Chase Young’s 5th-year option

The Commanders have made a decision.

As it turns out, the Washington Commanders will not wait until May 2 to pick up or decline defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option.

According to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, the Commanders will not exercise the fifth-year option, meaning Young will be a free agent after the upcoming 2023 season.

Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, was believed to be a “generational” or can’t-miss prospect, but things haven’t gone as anticipated.

After winning the 2020 NFL defensive rookie of the year award, Young had only 1.5 sacks through nine games in 2021 before injuring his knee, ending his season.

Young’s knee injury was more serious than just an ACL injury. Therefore, he would miss the majority of the 2022 season, not returning until Week 16 at San Francisco.

In three NFL seasons, Young has nine sacks and six forced fumbles in 27 career games.

Young’s fifth-year option would’ve counted over $17 million against the 2024 salary cap and was fully guaranteed even if Young was injured.

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Could the Commanders trade Chase Young during the 2023 NFL draft?

It seems unlikely, but nothing can be ruled out.

The Washington Commanders have a big decision to make immediately after the 2023 NFL draft. That decision is whether or not to pick up defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option.

Head coach Ron Rivera raised eyebrows in February when he said Washington hadn’t made a decision regarding Young’s fifth-year option. During last week’s media session ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, Rivera was asked again about the option, and all he offered was the date of when the Commanders needed to make a decision [May 2].

What if the Commanders have already made a decision?

Washington opened up the voluntary offseason program last week, and Young was in attendance. That surely pleased Rivera, who, along with his coaching staff, was upset when Young skipped portions of the 2021 offseason program after winning the 2020 NFL defensive rookie of the year award.

With Young showing up and having a clean bill of health, is that enough for Rivera to pick up the option?

Surely, Rivera wouldn’t drag this out if he didn’t plan on picking up the option.

Or would he?

Young’s option would be guaranteed at over $17 million for 2024 if picked up. Fellow starting defensive end Montez Sweat is a free agent after the upcoming season. If the Commanders decline Young’s option, both of their former first-round defensive ends will be free agents in 2024.

There could be another possibility for Washington.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus named five defensive players who could be traded during the 2023 NFL draft. Young was one of those five players.

This one may be a bit of a stretch, but with the fifth-year option deadline for 2020 first-round picks on May 1 rapidly approaching — the Monday after the draft — perhaps Washington will let another team make the very difficult decision of whether to fully guarantee $17.452 million for Young in 2024.

Washington has now extended interior defenders Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, and edge defender Montez Sweat is entering his fifth-year option season in 2023 coming off a season in which he earned a career-high 79.6 pass-rush grade with 62 total quarterback pressures, also a top mark of his young career. Chase Young arguably has a higher ceiling than Sweat once healthy, but is Washington comfortable with Sweat’s high floor and willing to be proactive in getting out ahead of potentially paying all four players?

If other teams are comfortable with Young’s medical situation after he missed considerable time with a knee injury, would they bring him aboard during the draft, exercise his fifth-year option and see what he offers in 2023 before entertaining an extension? Teams such as the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans, among many others, would have to at least consider it.

I agree with Spielberger’s opening statement. I find Washington trading Young very unlikely. Young still has superstar potential. So it behooves the Commanders to give him a fully healthy season to show them he can be the player they expected when selecting him No. 2 overall in 2020.

Rivera mentioned in February about motivating Young. Perhaps dragging out his option decision until the last minute is that motivation as it gives the Commanders more time to evaluate Young’s knee.

As for what Washington should do? There are strong cases from both perspectives on picking up — or declining — the fifth-year option.

Ron Rivera on Chase Young’s 5th-year option: ‘We will wait until May 2’

Rivera discussed Young’s fifth-year option.

NFL teams have until May 2 to decide whether or not they will pick up the fifth-year option on rookie first-round picks from the 2020 NFL draft. Even those some decisions are obvious one way or another, most teams wait until close to the deadline to officially announce their decision.

The Washington Commanders have an interesting decision on their hands. Defensive end Chase Young was the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2020. However, since 2020, Young has only 1.5 sacks. Part of Young’s lack of production is due to the severe knee injury he suffered in Nov. 2021. It cost Young eight games in 2021 and 14 games in 2022.

But, before Young’s knee was injured against Tampa Bay, he had only 1.5 sacks through nine games. This came the same year that Young upset some Washington brass by choosing to skip part of the team’s voluntary offseason program. Remember, Young had been named a captain during his rookie season.

What will the Commanders do?

Head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew met with the media for their pre-draft press conference and Rivera was asked about Young’s fifth-year option:

“No, we will wait until May 2,” Rivera answered.

Ben Standig of The Athletic followed up: “To make a decision or to announce something?”

“Well, that’s what we got,” Rivera responded. “We have until May 2.”

With the 2023 NFL draft taking place next week, a defensive end or edge rusher early in the draft can’t be ruled out. That’s not necessarily to replace Young, but whether or not Washington picks up his fifth-year option, Montez Sweat is scheduled to be a free agent next offseason.

In addition, Washington’s reserve defensive ends [James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill & Efe Obada] are all free agents after the 2023 season.

Young reported to Ashburn with his teammates earlier this week for the start of the voluntary offseason program.

Chase Young present as Commanders open offseason program

Chase Young is in Ashburn with his teammates.

The Washington Commanders have a big decision to make over the next two weeks. No, it’s not about the next owner, a new stadium, or even who the Commanders will take in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Will Washington pick up defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option?

NFL teams have until May 1 — right after the draft — to pick up the fifth-year options on 2020 first-round draft picks.

This would have once been considered a no-brainer, but the past two seasons haven’t gone as planned for Young. In fairness to the 2020 NFL defensive rookie of the year, he suffered a significant knee injury in Nov. 2021 that wiped out the second half of that season and all but three games in 2022.

Unfortunately for Young, he wasn’t exactly lighting it up in the nine games before his injury in 2021. He had 1.5 sacks in those nine games and had upset Washington’s coaching staff by skipping portions of the team’s voluntary offseason program in the spring of 2021.

Head coach Ron Rivera said in February that the Commanders were still considering a decision on his fifth-year option. He cited the knee injury being a part of the decision, but Young has a clean bill of health and looked explosive toward the end of last season.

One thing Rivera was trying to say: He wanted Young present for the team’s offseason program, which began on Monday.

As the players reported to Ashburn Monday, Young was present, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic.

There are merits to picking up Young’s fifth-year option and also merits to not picking up the option. Regardless, Washington is happy to have Young in town with his teammates for the start of the offseason program.

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Ron Rivera talks what will determine Commanders’ decision on Chase Young’s 5th-year option

The offseason program begins on April 17, giving the Commanders a couple of weeks before a decision must be made.

The Washington Commanders have a big decision to make soon. No, we aren’t talking about who Washington will pick in the first round, but what’s to come after the 2023 NFL draft.

May 2 is Washington’s deadline to decide if it will pick up defensive end Chase Young’s fifth-year option for 2024. It’s amazing we are even at this point, considering Young was the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2020.

However, a significant knee injury cost Young part of the 2021 season and all but three games of the 2022 season. Since his 2020 rookie season, Young has had 1.5 sacks in 12 games. Therefore, deciding to pick up his fifth-year option at over $17 million in 2024 isn’t the slam dunk it once was.

Head coach Ron Rivera made waves earlier this offseason when he declared the team hasn’t decided yet on Young’s fifth-year option. If Washington declines Young’s fifth-year option, both Young and fellow defensive end Montez Sweat would be unrestricted free agents in 2024.

On Tuesday, after being honored for winning the USAA Salute to Service award, Rivera spoke on what will go into this decision.

“That’s the thing that will drive a big part of the conversation,” Rivera said, courtesy of Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “As we continue to work through this and talk about it, it will be about seeing him and watching him. Again, we get started on April 17, so we’ll continue to work through these things — talk to the doctors, talk to the trainers, strength and medical, and just kind of get a feel for where he is. Then we’ll be able to make a decision, and we’ll go from there.”

From all indications, Young looks 100% healthy. In those three games he played in late last season, he looked like his old explosive self on the field. It was encouraging.

If you read between the lines of what Rivera said, it sounds as if the head coach wants to see Young in attendance at the team’s voluntary portion of the offseason program. In 2021, Rivera and the coaching staff was not happy that Young skipped that part of the offseason, even though it was voluntary. Remember, he was voted as a team captain.

If Young reports with the rest of his teammates on April 17, it could go a long way in the team deciding to pick up that fifth-year option. However, this is a complicated decision. For a player with Young’s skills, picking up the option is an easy call. But it’s not that simple, and it has nothing to do with the injury. Young’s production before the injury makes this decision more difficult.

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Salary cap analyst predicts Commanders will pick up Chase Young’s 5th-year option

Will the Commanders pick up Young’s fifth-year option?

The clock is ticking on an important decision for the Washington Commanders. No, we aren’t talking about who owner Dan Snyder will sell the franchise to, but a personnel decision that could have a long-term impact on the organization.

NFL teams have until May 1 to pick up the fifth-year option on first-round picks selected in the 2020 NFL draft. The Commanders selected defensive end Chase Young No. 2 overall in 2020. This should be a no-brainer, right?

Well, according to head coach Ron Rivera, it’s complicated. Rivera surprised everyone this offseason by saying the Commanders were considering not picking up Young’s fifth-year option. Rivera cited Young’s health as a factor but also noted how playing in a contract year motivated Daron Payne. Payne signed a record four-year extension earlier this month.

Was Rivera suggesting Young needs motivation? If so, that’s not ideal. However, Young didn’t return until late December from a major knee injury he suffered in November 2021. But before Young’s injury, he wasn’t exactly looking like the generational pass rusher many labeled him. Young recorded just 1.5 sacks in the nine games before he was lost for the 2021 season.

So, here we are. What will Washington do?

PFF analyst and salary cap expect Brad Spielberger made his prediction for all of 2020’s first-round picks, and he believes the Commanders will exercise Young’s fifth-year option:

This is the most fascinating decision facing any team on this list for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, the Commanders recently extended interior defender Daron Payne to the tune of $90 million across four years just one offseason after signing Jonathan Allen to a four-year, $72 million extension. Edge defender Montez Sweat is entering his fifth-year option season in 2023 coming off a career-high 86.4 grade. Washington simply cannot pay all four players, but do they push that decision out another year and buy themselves time with Young? Or rip the Band-Aid off now?

While Young’s knee injury sustained in 2021 cost him a whopping 22 games, he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie for a reason, with his 87.2 overall grade ranking sixth among edge defenders on the season. The risk associated with not picking up his option could be that if Washington doesn’t extend Sweat this offseason, they’d only have one franchise tag at their disposal with both entering unrestricted free agency.

All outstanding points from Spielberger. Everything he said is correct. This is a fascinating decision that Washington probably can’t believe it needs to make. After Young won NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2020, many expected the Commanders to be working on a generous extension for Young.

I agree with Spielberger here. The Commanders will pick up Young’s option. Even though it will be costly, it doesn’t tip their hand on which defensive end they want to keep beyond 2023 between him and Montez Sweat.

Sweat is a free agent after 2023, and if the Commanders can’t agree to a long-term deal with him, they can apply the franchise tag. If the option is picked up, Young will already be under contract for 2024 at around $17.5 million.

It should be an interesting few weeks for Washington, and that decision on Young likely will not come until the last minute.

Falcons exercising Lindstrom’s 5th-year option, won’t pick up McGary

According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday, the Falcons will pick up Lindstrom’s fifth-year option.

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Chris Lindstrom in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft three seasons ago, and it appears the former Boston College standout will be sticking around through 2023 at the very least.

According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday, the Falcons will pick up Lindstrom’s fifth-year option.

Lindstrom has been stellar over the last three seasons, progressing each year. In 2021, he earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 83.7, and run-blocking grade of 87.6.

The Falcons will not be picking up right tackle Kaleb McGary’s fifth-year option, Fowler has since reported.

Check out out latest offensive lineup projections for the team following the 2022 NFL draft.

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